PPE:
Please ensure that enhanced (full) PPE, including face masks and eye protection, is worn in accordance with our PPE – Guidance for Aspire Staff issued on 17th April 2020.

There is also guidance on how to put on/remove PPE and Public Heath England has produced a video training about the donning and doffing of PPE in social care settings.

Test and Trace:The Test and Trace process started in England on 28th May 2020. Workplace guidance was issued on 27th May and, also published, was advice to possible contacts. Importantly, in this second piece of guidance, it is clear that the “guidance does not include health care workers and others working in health and social care settings, who should follow separate guidance“. Therefore, Aspire staff should continue to operate as had been the case before Test and Trace – within our existing risk assessment processes and existing guidance to staff.

Documents :

More guidance has been shared by the government (2/4/20) about PPE usage. Tables 1, 2 and 4 seem to be the most relevant ones for our sector. There is a bit of a lag between the guidance issued on the 2nd and the guidance for those of us providing supporting living services. We will keep you posted as things become clearer, but at Aspire our interpretation of the guidance is that, face masks should be worn by staff when anyone in the household is symptomatic, not just on each interaction with the symptomatic person, and that masks can be worn for more than one interaction.

Letter from Andy Rawnsley, Chief Executive of Aspire, thanking staff for their incredible dedication, flexibility, generosity and kindness and providing an update now that we are in a further period of lockdown.

Guidance (as at 16th April 2020 at 4:00pm) for protecting vulnerable people in our care settings, staff and families of care staff who may be vulnerable, bearing in mind that the vast majority of Aspire staff are considered to be ‘key workers’.